Gas control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A gas control mechanism for gas light responsive to exterior light and its absence. A housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber is provided and a first path of travel for the gas is defined through the first chamber only and a second path of travel for the gas is defined through the first, second and third chambers. A pressure-responsive valve is provided at the first chamber to interrupt the flow of gas in the first path of travel in the presence of light. A passage is defined between the first and second chambers to bypass gas to the second chamber at a reduced pressure. A pressure regulator is intermediate the second and third chambers to provide a lower pressure in the third chamber than in the second chamber. The gas passes by the pressure regulator from the second chamber to the third chamber and a fixed gas outlet is provided in the third chamber. An adjustable gas outlet is also provided in the third chamber and it is adjustable between open and closed positions by a light-sensitive arrangement which adjusts the adjustable outlet between the open and closed position in response to the presence or absence of light energy.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Duane V. Kniebes La Grange, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 63,431 [22] Filed Aug. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [73] Assignee Institute of Gas Technology [54] GAS CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 431/60, 251/45 [51 Int. Cl F23q 9/08 [50] Field of Search 431/60 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,188,836 6/1965 Kniebes 431/60 X 3,330,l33 7/1967 Kniebes 43 N60 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff ABSTRACT: A gas control mechanism for gas light responsive to exterior light and its absence. A housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber is provided and a first path of travel for the gas is defined through the first chamber only and a second path of travel for the gas is defined through the first, second and third chambersv A pressureresponsive valve is provided at the first chamber to interrupt the fiow of gas in the first path of travel in the presence of light. A passage is defined between the first and second chambers to bypass gas to the second chamber at a reduced pressure. A pressure regulator is intermediate the second and third chambers to provide a lower pressure in the third chamber than in the second chamber. The gas passes by the pressure regulator from the second chamber to the third chamber and a fixed gas outlet is provided in the third chamber. An adjustable gas outlet is also provided in the third chamber and it is adjustable between open and closed positions by a light-sensitive arrangement which adjusts the adjustable outlet between the open and closed position in response to the presence or absence of light energy.

PATENTEOJM 4m 1 11 1 I III In $77107"; ,Daazze V @Zfniebes GAS CONTROL MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a gas flow control mechanism which is particularly useful for economically operating a gas light at relatively high gas pressures as well as at relatively low gas pressures.

Description of the Prior Art In recent years, gas lights have come into more extensive use because of the pleasing light emitted by a gas flame. Two control mechanisms which have proven to be very successful for economically controlling the flow of gas to a gas light are those shown in my earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,188,836 and 3,330,133. The control devices shown in these earlier patents are specifically intended for operation at low gas pressures, generally in the range of 3-12 inches of water column service. In certain applications, however, the operating gas pressure passing to the light must be substantially higher, such as about 5 p.s.i.g. At such high pressures, it would, of course, be economically unfeasible to operate the light continuously because of the high consumption of gas at the high pressures. The devices shown in my two earlier patents, however, do not operate satisfactorily to interrupt the flow of gas at high pressures.

The problem encountered with operating the devices shown .in my earlier patents at high pressures is that above the design pressure levels, that is, above about 12 inches of water column, the solar battery required would be significantly larger and more costly because of the significantly greater electrical energy required to open the electromechanical valve at the high pressures. In addition to providing a gas flow control mechanism useful at higher gas pressures, it would be very desirable to provide such a control mechanism which operates equally well at lower pressures, so the mechanism may have substantially universal application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a gas flow control mechanism particularly for use with gas lights wherein the control device operates equally well at both high and low gas pressures.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved gas flow control mechanism wherein the device is simple in construction and economical in operation, even at relatively high gas pressures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a gas control mechanism which requires substantially the same electrical energy for turning the gas light on and off when the gas pressure to the gas light is relatively high and relatively low.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved gas flow control mechanism wherein the mechanism includes a lightor solar-activated electrical energy source which is the same size at both high and low gas line pressures because the mechanism operated by the solar energy is maintained below a preselected level regardless of gas line pressure.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a mechanism for controlling the flow of gas between a source of gas and a place of its use, wherein the mechanism includes a housing with first, second and third chambers, first and second paths of travel are defined through the housing, the first path of travel is defined through the first chamber only while the second path of travel is defined through the first, second and third chambers, a valve is in the first chamber for interrupting the flow of gas in the first path of travel when the pressure in the second chamber decreases to a predetermined level, a conduit between the first and second chambers passes the gas to the second chamber at a reduced pressure, a pressure regulator is intermediate the second and third chambers so that a lower gas pressure is maintained in the third chamber than in the second chamber, a fixed outlet is provided in the third chamber for passing gas from the third chamber to a place of use, and an adjustable outlet is also provided in the third chamber and is adjustable between open and closed positions so that a portion of the gas in the second path of travel passes therethrough, and a light-sensitive means is provided for adjusting the adjustable outlet between its open and closed position in response to the absence or presence of light energy, the light-sensitive means reducing the pressure in the third chamber and the pressure regulator reducing the pressure in the second chamber a proportional amount whereby the valve means interrupts the flow of gas in the first path of travel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the gas light, generally 10, is shown as including a support post 12 which is mounted in an upright position in the ground and the post 12 supports a lamp portion 14. A burner (not shown) and a pilot light burner (not shown) are located within the lamp portion 14. A gas line 16 extends from a gas main (not shown) and extends upwardly in the support post 12 and is interconnected to the gas control mechanism, generally 18, which is the subject of this invention. Desirably, a gas pressure regulator 20 is located in the gas line 16, and may be contained within the support post 12, as shown. The pressure regulator 20 may. be adjusted to cause the gas pressure in the line 16 to be maintained at a preselected level. Although the mechanism I8 may be used in connection with controlling the gas flow at low pressures, for example, below 12 inches of water column pressure, it is important the gas control mechanism 18 is to economically control the flow of gas at much higher pressure levels, such as 5 p.s.i.g.

In the gas control mechanism 18, the gas in the line 16 is divided into two lines or paths of travel. A main line 22 passes to a gas burner which emits the desired light, and a pilot line 24 passes to the pilot burner in the lamp portion 14 which remains lit at all times to reignite the main burner when night falls. The gas in pilot line 24 may, alternatively, supply the main burner so that it does not completely extinguish when its supply from the main line 22 is shut off. In such a case, a pilot burner is not needed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a source of electrical power, preferably a sun battery or solar cell, 26, is mounted on the post 14 closely adjacent the gas control mechanism 18. The solar cell 26 is exposed to the exterior so as to be responsive to the desired exterior light or sun light so that the burner in the lamp I4 is turned on in the absence of light and is turned off in the presence of sun light. Desirably, a shield 28 is mounted around the solar cell 26 in order to avoid adverse effect upon the operation of the mechanism 18 by light being emitted from the gas lamp itself.

Referring to FIG. 2, the details of the gas control mechanism I8 are shown. The gas control mechanism 18 includes a housing, generally 30, which defines a first chamber 32, a second chamber 34, and a third chamber 36. The housing 30 also includes a gas line connecting portion 38 having an inlet connection 40 which interconnects to the gas line 16 and also having an outlet connection 42 which interconnects to the main gas line 22 which extends to the gas burner within the lamp 14.

A diaphragm 44, preferably circular in shape, is secured by suitable means to the walls 46 within the housing 30. The

diaphragm 44 separates the first chamber 32 from the second chamber 34. The first chamber 32 communicates through a lateral opening 48 with the inlet connection 40 so that the chamber 32 is maintained substantially at the inlet gas pressure of the gas line 16.

A biasing member or spring 50 is contained within the second chamber 34 and bears against the diaphragm 44 so as to normally bias the valve stem 52 to the open position, as shown. The valve stem 52 is fixedly secured to the central portion of the separating diaphragm 44. The spring bias 50 is set to open the valve stem 52 so that gas may flow through the opening valve 48 into the chamber 32, through the annular valve opening 54, and to the outlet connection 42, when there is absence of sunlight, the combined pressure of the spring 50 and the pressure in the second chamber 34 acting against the diaphragm 44 to open the valve 52. In the presence of light, the pressure in the second chamber 34 is reduced so that the inlet gas pressure in the chamber 32 overcomes the bias of the spring 50 and the pressure in the chamber 34 so as to close the valve stem 52 in the opening 54 to prevent the flow of gas to the gas light burner. Desirably, an orifice 60 is provided in the wall 58 between the inlet and outlet connections 40 and 42 so that a limited amount of gas passes directly through the orifice 60 between the inlet gas line 16 and the gas burner line 22. The orifice 60 thereby permits a low flame setting for the gas light burner, if desired. As will be explained hereinafter, if there is sufficient gas at the pilot burner, it is not necessary to provide the orifice 60.

A bypass orifice 56 is provided in the wall 46 of the housing for passing gas from the first chamber 32 around the diaphragm 44 to the second chamber 34. The orifice bypass 56 maintains the pressure in the second chamber 34 at a somewhat lower pressure than the pressure in the first chamber 32. For a supply pressure of p.s.i.g. for example, in the first chamber 32, the pressure in the second chamber 34 is maintained at approximately 2.5 to 4.5 p.s.i.g.

In addition to the sizing of the orifice 56, the pressure in the second chamber 34 is maintained at the desired level by use of the pressure regulator 62 which is interposed between the second chamber 34 and the third chamber 36. The pressure regulator 62 is generally of conventional design and is formed as part of the housing 30. The pressure regulator 62 functions to maintain the pressure in the third chamber 36 substantially lower than the pressure in the second chamber 34. For example, for a pressure input of 5 p.s.i.g. in the first chamber 32, and a pressure of 2.5-4.5 p.s.i.g. in the second chamber 34, the pressure regulator 62 is designed to maintain the pressure in the third chamber 36 at about 3-5 inches of water column.

The pressure regulator 62 includes a diaphragm 64 which is secured to the walls 66 of the housing 30 by any suitable means. Desirably, a spring 68 of desired spring tension bears against the diaphragm 64. A valve stem 70 is secured to the central portion of the diaphragm 64 and the spring 68, in combination with the pressure in the spring chamber 72, functions to maintain the opening between the valve opening 74 and the valve stem 70 at a predetermined annular area so that the pressure in the third chamber 36 is maintained at the desired low level. The spring chamber 72 is always maintained at atmospheric pressure because a vent 76 interconnects the spring chamber 72 to the atmosphere through the wall 78 of the housing 30. Atmospheric pressure acts against the diaphragm 64 in combination with the spring pressure 68 to adjust the valve stem 70 to a desired position. This combined pressure thus maintains the opening between the walls of the valve opening 74 and the valve stem 70 at a desired setting.

A permanent magnet 80 is contained within the third chamber and a coil armature 82 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 84. The opposite ends of the coil 82 are connected to contact 86 which, in turn, are interconnected to the leads 88 extending to the solar battery or cell 26. An arm 90 is fixed to the coil mounting 82 and is biased normally to the closed position by a spring 92. The free end of the arm 90 includes a closure 94 comprising a flexible pad which is aligned to bear against an orifice opening 96. The orifice 96 extends to the pilot outlet 98 which is interconnected to the pilot line 24. A second orifice 100 of a predetermined fixed opening is also provided in the chamber wall 102. Because of the reduced pressure in the third chamber 36 provided by the pressure regulator 62, it is unnecessary for the solar cell or battery 26 to be any larger in electrical capacity than a solar cell used in connection with control mechanisms designed to operate at low gas inlet pressures such as 3-l 2 inches water column. The orifice 96, has an opening of approximately 0.0l5 inches in diameter and selectively permits additional gas to escape from the third chamber 36 and thereby from the second chamber 34. This lowers the pressure in the chamber 34 so the pressure in the first chamber 32 overcomes the spring bias and gas pressure in the chambers 34 and the valve stem 52 closes in the opening 54.

In the operation of the mechanism 18, gas passes through the inlet 38 from the gas line 16 to the first chamber 32 at a relatively high pressure, for example, 5 p.s.i.g. As the sun begins to go down in the evening, the solar cell 26 becomes deenergized and the bias of the spring 92 biases the arm 96 and the pad 94 against the orifice 96 until the orifice 96 is closed. This causes the pressure in the third chamber 36 to in crease since the only gas escaping from the third chamber is through the fixed orifice 100. The increase in pressure in the second chamber 34, in combination with the pressure provided by the spring 50, acting against the diaphragm 44 overcomes the gas inlet pressure acting against the underside of the diaphragm 44 in the first chamber 32. When this combined pressure is sufficient to overcome the pressure in the chamber 34, the valve stem 52 opens to permit gas to pass through the valve opening 54 to the main gas outlet line 22 and to the gas burner which may be ignited by the pilot light, and the gas light is thus turned on.

The orifice 100, which is minimally sized, is important as it assures that the pressure in the third chamber 36 does not exceed the predetermined minimum pressure in the chamber 36 because of the leakage of gas past the valve stem 70 when it is moved to the closed position because of increased pressure in the chamber 36.

The mechanism maintains the operating or on" condition until the sun comes up again and the solar cell 26 is energized by light energy. Energizing of the solar cell 26 causes the coil armature 82 to rotate relative to the magnet so that the arm and the pad 94 thereon are pivoted, against the bias spring 92, to open the adjustable orifice 96. When the adjustable orifice 96 is opened, more gas is permitted to escape from the chamber 36, lowering its pressure. The lowered pressure, combined with the atmospheric pressure and pressure from the spring 68, opens the valve stem 70 in the opening 74 to a greater extent so that the pressure in the second chamber 34 decreases to a level at which the gas pressure acting against the diaphragm 44 in the first chamber 32 overcomes the pressure in the second chamber 34, combined with the spring-biasing pressure therein. Ultimately, the inlet gas pressure against the diaphragm 44 closes the valve stem 52 in the valve opening to effectively stop the flow of gas through the first chamber 32 so the gas flow to the main burner is shut off.

If an orifice 60 is provided in the wall 58, there is a sufl'icient quantity of gas passing to the main burner to provide for a low flame setting when desired. However, the orifice 60 is generally found unnecessary if the gas passing through the orifice 96 and orifice provides a sufficient quantity of gas for a pilot flame, which is the more usual and desired condition.

While in the foregoing there has been provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mechanism for controlling the flow of gas between a gas source and a place of use, said mechanism comprising a housing having first, second and third chambers, means defining a first path of travel in said housing through said first chamber, means defining a second path of travel in said housing through said first, second and third chambers, valve means in said first chamber to selectively interrupt the flow of gas in said first path of travel, means defining a passage between said first and second chambers for passing said gas in said second path of travel to said second chamber at a reduced pressure, pressure regulator means passing gas in said second path of travel from said second chamber to said third chamber at a reduced pressure, a fixed outlet in said third chamber for passing gas in said second path of travel to its place of use, an outlet in said third chamber selectively adjustable between open and closed positions for passage of a portion of said gas in said second path of travel to its place of use, and light-sensitive means for adjusting said adjustable outlet between its open and closed positions in response to the absence or presence of light energy, the opening of said adjustable opening reducing the pressure in said third chamber, said pressure regulator reducing the pressure in said second chamber whereby said valve means interrupts the fiow of gas in said first path of travel.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein an orifice is provided in said first path of travel for bypassing said gas in said first path of travel around said first chamber.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first and second chambers are separated by a spring-biased diaphragm and said valve means is interconnected to said diaphragm, said valve means being closed when the pressure in said first chamber overcomes the combined pressure from the spring bias and from the pressure in said second chamber, and said valve means being in the open position when said spring bias and the pressure in said second chamber overcomes the pressure in said first chamber. I 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light energy means includes a solar battery and a galvanometer arrangement for opening and closing said adjustable opening in accordance with the presence or absence of solar energy.

5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the gas in said first path of travel passes to a gas burner and the gas in said second path of travel passes to a pilot light. 

1. A mechanism for controlling the flow of gas between a gas source and a place of use, said mechanism comprising a housing having first, second and third chambers, means defining a first path of travel in said housing through said first chamber, means defining a second path of travel in said housing through said first, second and third chambers, valve means in said first chamber to selectively interrupt the flow of gas in said first path of travel, means defining a passage between said first and second chambers for passing said gas in said second path of travel to said second chamber at a reduced pressure, pressure regulator means passing gas in said second path of travel from said second chamber to said third chamber at a reduced pressure, a fixed outlet in said third chamber for passing gas in said second path of travel to its place of use, an outlet in said third chamber selectively adjustable between open and closed positions for passage of a portion of said gas in said second path of travel to its place of use, and light-sensitive means for adjusting said adjustable outlet between its open and closed positions in response to the absence or presence of light energy, the opening of said adjustable opening reducing the pressure in said third chamber, said pressure regulator reducing the pressure in said second chamber whereby said valve means interrupts the flow of gas in said first path of travel.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein an orifice is provided in said first path of travel for bypassing said gas in said first path of travel around said first chamber.
 3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first and second chambers are separated by a spring-biased diaphragm and said valve means is interconnected to said diaphragm, said valve means being closed when the pressure in said first chamber overcomes the combined pressure from the spring bias and from the pressure in said second chamber, and said valve means being in the open position when said spring bias and the pressure in said seCond chamber overcomes the pressure in said first chamber.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light energy means includes a solar battery and a galvanometer arrangement for opening and closing said adjustable opening in accordance with the presence or absence of solar energy.
 5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the gas in said first path of travel passes to a gas burner and the gas in said second path of travel passes to a pilot light. 